It's a hockey night in South Florida. No, it's a basketball night in South Florida.
Wait, it's both?
For the first of what could be as many as six nights over the next two weeks, the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers will play games in their respective playoff series on the same day.
Game 1 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals and the NHL's Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs both fall on Tuesday, with the Heat playing at home in Miami and the Panthers taking the ice at home in Sunrise.
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“Heat and Panthers fans, utilize the DVR," said. Alphonso Sidney, a Miami Heat fan. "Start the Panthers game, watch the Panthers game all the way through unless it’s a blow out but with the Panthers, apparently you can never count them out, right?”
Game 2 for both teams would be Thursday with Game 4 for both teams being on Monday, May 23. If needed, Games 5 (May 25), 6 (May 27) and 7 (May 29) would be played on the same dates as well.
The Heat will be making their ninth all-time appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals against a Boston Celtics team that have previously defeated twice before in this round. Miami last beat the Celtics in the ECF during the 2020 season.
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The Panthers won a playoff series for the first time in 26 years after defeating the Washington Capitals in the opening round. Now, Florida prepares for a Sunshine State showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Complete malpractice on the NHL’s end. You have this burgeoning fan base in South Florida that really wants to get into the Panthers, I even watch the games," said Sidney. "I have no idea what’s happening, they’re slapping it around, they’re fighting, it’s fun but I have no clue about the strategy or any of it."
With both the Heat and Panthers still playing, South Florida remains the only region in the country with teams still in the playoffs in each sport.
